State of the Nation

To whom it may concern,

Similar to his inaugural address, during the State of the Nation, the President spoke to virtually every concern of mine then explicitly outlined a course of action that focuses on energy, education, and health care. While he cited many specific policy changes and budgetary corrections, I am curious as to the procedure that was undertaken when writing his first budget. The President spoke of how he would cut two trillion dollars out of the national deficit by eliminating programs that do not work. What was the criterion by which these programs or budget allocations were judged to be ineffective? Was there a cost benefit analysis and threshold developed or was it based more on a change in national priorities as a whole?

GUNNAR HAND, AICP